Kolkata, October 31
Yet another Bangla bandh was observed today against killings in Nandigram and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharhee’s alleged misuse of the police and the official machinery for their vested interests. The bandh was called also on the government’s “odd stand” on the present ration distribution scandal, deaths in the tea gardens and the Rizwanur’s mysterious murder.
Yesterday, the SUCI and the Naxalites also observed a bandh on the same issues, which was partial. Today’s 12-hour Bangla bandh called by Mamata Banerjee paralysed normal life in Kolkata and the remaining parts of the state.
Barring a few minor incidents of clash between the workers and supports of the Trinamool Congress and the CPM, the bandh was more or less peaceful. Over 1,000 people, however, were arrested in connection with the bandh, but the arrested people were released afterwards.
The bandh was observed in Nandigram also, but it was not peaceful. Activists belonging to the Krishi Bachaoo Committee and the CPM were involved in clashes today also over the control of the areas. According to official reports, since fresh attempts were made last night from the Khejuri side by CPM activists to recapture their lands at Nandigram, which the farmers had resisted. Strong police enforcement, however, was stationed in the Nandigram area for maintaining peace.
After today’s bandh, Mamata Banerjee claimed the bandh was all out and successful. She declared on November 3 the Trinamool Congress and other like-minded parties supporting the farmers’ agitation would hold a rally at the Subodh Mallcik Square where they would declare their future course of agitation.
The CITU leader, Shyamal Chakraborty, however, claimed that the people in general had rejected today’s bandh. He alleged that the Trinamool workers and supporters had obstructed train and vehicular movement in the city causing inconvenience to people. The home secretary, Prasad Ranjan Roy, said the bandh was peaceful excepting a few minor incidents where the people supporting and opposing the bandh were involved in clashes. Over 800 persons in the district and about 200 in the city had been arrested in connection with the bandh.
